Thai golfers prevail

Even in harsh conditions, Thailand found a way to survive, scrambling with a one-under 215 to all but wrap up the 2013 ASEAN Schools Golf Championships crown with a 23-shot lead over Team Philippines after three rounds of play at the wind-raked Splendido Golf Club in Tagaytay yesterday.
Supamas Sangchan, priming up with Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong, for next month’s SEA Games in Myanmar, needed birdie the par-5 18th to salvage a 71. He birdied the first three holes but faltered along the way before coming up with a huge birdie on the final hole.

That proved to be Thailand’s best score in punishing day when tee boxes were pushed back, making the course longer, and the wind blew from all over as Santiwiwatthanaphong, who shot 64 and 68 in the first round rounds, settled for a 72 on a two-birdie, two-bogey stint.

Suthave Chanachai also blew a two-under card with two bogeys at the backside as the Thais slowed down with a 215 after dominating the field with 13-under and 16-under cards in the first two days of the event sponsored by the Department of Education, International Container Terminal Services, Inc., and Junior Golf Foundation of the Phils.

With a 30-under 618 aggregate, Thailand stood 23 shots ahead of the ICTSI-backed Team PH, which hobbled with a two-over 218 for a seven-under 641 total. Miya Legaspi, the reigning Asian Youth Games gold medalist, finally broke par at 71 but Princess Superal struggled with a 73 after back-to-back 70s and Pauline del Rosario limped with a 74 after a 67 and 72.